U.S. patent application number 09/842448 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-01 for pull-on disposable wearing article.
Invention is credited to Sugito, Tomoko.
Application Number | 20010037102 09/842448 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18637693 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010037102 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sugito, Tomoko |
November 1, 2001 |
Pull-on disposable wearing article
Abstract
Here is disclosed a pull-on disposable wearing article formed by
connecting front and rear waist regions to each other wherein an
auxiliary sheet having a given area and placed upon outer surface
of a backsheet extends from a crotch region into the front waist
region and comprises a free end zone lying in the front waist
region and circumferentially extending and fixed side edge zones
longitudinally extending along the transversely opposite side edges
in the front waist region as well as in the crotch region and fixed
to the outer surface of the backsheet.
Inventors: |
Sugito, Tomoko; (Kagawa-ken,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & DANIELS
111 E. WAYNE STREET
SUITE 800
FORT WAYNE
IN
46802
|
Family ID: |
18637693 |
Appl. No.: |
09/842448 |
Filed: |
April 26, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/385.13 ;
604/385.24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 13/496 20130101;
A61F 13/5512 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
604/385.13 ;
604/385.24 |
International
Class: |
A61F 013/15 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 27, 2000 |
JP |
2000-128217 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A pull-on disposable wearing article comprising a
liquid-pervious topsheet, a liquid-impervious backsheet and a
liquid-absorbent core disposed between these two sheets so as to
configure first and second waist regions opposed to each other and
a crotch region extending between these two waist regions wherein
said first and second waist regions are connected to each other
along transversely opposite side edges thereof to form a waist-hole
and a pair of leg-holes, wherein: an auxiliary sheet having a given
area and placed upon an outer surface of said backsheet extends
from said crotch region into said first and/or second waist regions
and comprises a free end zone lying in said first waist region and
extending in circumferential direction and fixed side edge zones
longitudinally extending along the transversely opposite side edges
in the first and second waist regions and the crotch region and
fixed to the outer surface of the backsheet.
2. The wearing article according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary
sheet is fixed to the outer surface of said backsheet along a
sealed zone extending parallel to said free end zone across a
substantially middle zone of said crotch region and wherein said
backsheet cooperates with said auxiliary sheet to form a pocket
opening toward said waist-hole.
3. The wearing article according to claim 1, wherein a fastening
zone adapted to fasten said auxiliary sheet to the outer surface of
said backsheet extends in said circumferential direction along said
free end zone of said auxiliary sheet.
4. The wearing article according to claim 1, wherein an elastically
stretchable member extending in said circumferential direction is
attached under tension to said free end zone.
5. The wearing article according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary
sheet is elastically stretchable in said circumferential direction
and bonded under tension in said circumferential direction to the
outer surface of said backsheet.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a pull-on disposable wearing
article and more particularly to such wearing article such as a
pull-on disposable diaper, training pants or incontinent pants.
[0002] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1998-295725A
describes a pull-on disposable wearing article basically comprising
a liquid-pervious topsheet, a liquid-impervious backsheet and a
liquid-absorbent core disposed between these two sheets wherein
front and rear waist regions are connected to each other along
transversely opposite side edges thereof to form a waist-hole and a
pair of leg-holes and wherein an auxiliary flap is attached to
outer surface of the backsheet in the front and/or rear waist
regions. In the article disclosed in the Publication, the auxiliary
flap has its transversely opposite side edges fixed to the
corresponding side edges of the front waist region and its upper
end fixed to peripheral edge of the waist-hole in the front waist
region so as to form a pocket opening downwardly of the
article.
[0003] For disposal of the article, the article is longitudinally
rolled up from the crotch region toward the waist-hole with the
rear waist region inside, then the auxiliary flap is folded back
toward the rear waist region to turn the pocket inside out and the
rolled up article is tucked away in the pocket turned inside
out.
[0004] The article disclosed in the Publication can put the
waist-hole as well as the leg-holes into the pocket merely by
rolling the article up. However, it is apprehended that excretion
having been discharged within the article might be squeezed out
through the waist-hole and/or the leg-holes as the article is
rolled up.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of this invention to provide a disposable
wearing article of pants-type enabling a waist-hole as well as
leg-holes to be kept closed for disposal of the used article so
that leakage of excretion through these holes can be reliably
avoided without a necessity for rolling it up.
[0006] According to this invention, there is provided an
improvement in the pull-on disposable wearing article comprising a
liquid-pervious topsheet, a liquid-impervious backsheet and a
liquid-absorbent core disposed between these two sheets so as to
configure first and second waist regions opposed to each other and
a crotch region extending between these two waist regions wherein
the first and second waist regions are connected to each other
along transversely opposite side edges thereof to form a waist-hole
and a pair of leg-holes,
[0007] The improvement according to this invention is in that an
auxiliary sheet having a given area and placed upon an outer
surface of the backsheet extends from the crotch region into the
first and/or second waist regions and comprises a free end zone
lying in the first waist region and extending in circumferential
direction and fixed side edge zones longitudinally extending along
the transversely opposite side edges in the first and second waist
regions and the crotch region and fixed to the outer surface of the
backsheet.
[0008] According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, the
auxiliary sheet is fixed to the outer surface of the backsheet
along a sealed zone extending parallel to the free end zone across
a substantially middle zone of the crotch region and wherein the
backsheet cooperates with the auxiliary sheet to form a pocket
opening toward the waist-hole.
[0009] According to another preferred embodiment of this invention,
a fastening zone adapted to fasten the auxiliary sheet to the outer
surface of the backsheet extends in the circumferential direction
along the free end zone of the auxiliary sheet.
[0010] According to still another preferred embodiment of this
invention, an elastically stretchable member extending in the
circumferential direction is attached under tension to the free end
zone.
[0011] According to further another preferred embodiment of this
invention, the auxiliary sheet is elastically stretchable in the
circumferential direction and bonded under tension in the
circumferential direction to the outer surface of the
backsheet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a disposable diaper as
viewed from the side of a front waist region and partially broken
away;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG.
1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating steps of
tucking away the diaper of FIG. 1 in the pocket P;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the used diaper tucked
away in the pocket P for disposal;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of
the diaper 1 as viewed from the side of the front waist region and
partially broken away;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 5;
and
[0018] FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating steps of
putting the auxiliary sheet over the diaper of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Details of the disposable wearing article of pants-type
according to this invention will be more fully understood from the
description of disposable diaper as one embodiment given hereunder
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a disposable diaper 1
as viewed from the side of a front waist region 20 and partially
broken away and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a line A-A
in FIG. 1. The diaper 1 comprises a liquid-pervious topsheet 2, a
liquid-impervious backsheet 3 and a liquid-absorbent core 4
disposed between the top- and backsheets 2, 3. The liquid-absorbent
core 4 is entirely covered with and bonded to liquid-pervious
tissue paper (not shown) with interposition of which the core 4 is
bonded to inner surface of the topsheet 2 and/or the backsheet
3.
[0021] The diaper 1 is longitudinally composed of the front waist
region 20, a rear waist region 22 and a crotch zone 21 extending
between the front and rear waist regions 20, 22. The front and rear
waist regions 20, 22 are put flat together and bonded together
along respective transversely opposite side edges 1a extending
longitudinally of the diaper 1 so as to define a waist-hole 5
opening upward as viewed in FIG. 1 and a pair of leg-holes 6
opening laterally also as viewed in FIG. 1.
[0022] Along peripheral edge of the waist-hole 5, a plurality of
elastically stretchable members 10 are disposed between the top-
and backsheets 2, 3 and bonded under tension to inner surface of
the topsheet 2 and/or the backsheet 3. Similarly, along peripheral
edges of the respective leg-holes 6, a plurality of elastically
stretchable members 11 are disposed between the top- and backsheets
2, 3 and bonded under tension to inner surface of the topsheet 2
and/or the backsheet 3. The presence of the elastic members 10, 11
respectively enables the peripheral edges of the waist- and
leg-holes 5, 6 to have circumferential elastic stretchability.
Referring to FIG. 1, the respective elastic members 10, 11 have
been relieved of tension and consequently gathers are formed along
the peripheral edges of the waist- and leg-holes 5, 6.
[0023] The diaper 1 is provided on outer surface of the backsheet 3
with an auxiliary sheet 7 adapted to hold the used diaper 1 in its
folded state for disposal. This auxiliary sheet 7 has a given area
and extends from the crotch region 21 into the front waist region
20. More specifically, the auxiliary sheet 7 is defined by a free
end zone 7a lying at a substantially middle level of the front
waist region 20 and circumferentially extending between the
transversely opposite side edges 1a in the front waist region 20, a
transversely opposite fixed side edge zones 7b longitudinally
extending along the transversely opposite side edges 1a in the
front waist region 20 and the crotch region 21, and a fixed end
zone 7c (sealed zone) extending parallel to the free end zone 7a
across a substantially middle zone of the crotch region 21. While
the auxiliary sheet 7 is illustrated to extend from the crotch
region 21 into the front waist region 20, an alternative
arrangement is also possible in which the auxiliary sheet 7 extends
from the crotch region 21 into the rear waist region 22.
[0024] An elastically stretchable member 9 extending
circumferentially is attached under tension to the free end zone 7a
of the auxiliary sheet 7 so as to be covered with a part of the
free end zone 7a. The auxiliary sheet 7 has its fixed side edge
zones 7b and fixed end zone 7c bonded to the outer surface of the
backsheet 3 so that the auxiliary sheet 7 cooperates with the
backsheet 3 to form a pocket P opening toward the waist-hole 5. The
auxiliary sheet 7 is provided on its outer surface with a fastening
zone 8 circumferentially extending along the free end zone 7a so
that the auxiliary sheet 7 may be fastened to the outer surface of
the backsheet 3 in this fastening zone 8.
[0025] The fastening zone 8 comprises a flexible plastic sheet 8a,
pressure-sensitive adhesive 8b applied on outer surface of the
plastic sheet 8a and a peelable protective sheet 8c covering the
pressure-sensitive adhesive 8b. The plastic sheet 8a has its inner
surface fixed to the outer surface of the auxiliary sheet 7
immediately below the elastic member 9. Alternatively, it is
possible to form the fastening zone 8 on the inner surface of the
auxiliary sheet 7 so that the fastening zone 8 circumferentially
may extend along the free end zone 7a.
[0026] FIGS. 3A-3D are diagrams schematically illustrating steps of
tucking away the used diaper 1 in the pocket P and FIG. 4 is a
perspective view showing the diaper 1 tucked away in the pocket P
for disposal. From the state of FIG. 3A, the diaper 1 is folded in
two with the rear waist region 22 inside, i.e., with the rear waist
region 22 placed upon the crotch region 21. It should be understood
that the protective sheet 8c has been peeled off from the fastening
zone 8 to expose the pressure-sensitive adhesive 8b before the
diaper 1 is folded in two.
[0027] After the diaper 1 has been folded in two as illustrated in
FIG. 3B, the free end zone 7a of the auxiliary sheet 7 is pulled in
a direction indicated by an arrow X toward the crotch region 21 as
illustrated in FIGS. 3C and 3D, then the auxiliary sheet 7 is
folded back toward the front waist region 20 to turn the pocket P
inside out. The diaper 1 is tucked away within the pocket P turned
inside out. Then the auxiliary sheet 7 is fastened in the vicinity
of its free end zone 7a to the outer surface of the front waist
region 20 by means of the pressure-sensitive adhesive 8b.
[0028] Of the diaper 1 tucked away in the pocket P, the waist-hole
5 as well as the leg-holes 6 are completely received in this pocket
P as illustrated by FIG. 4 and the opening of the pocket P is
sealed by means of the pressure-sensitive adhesive 8b. After
disposal of the diaper 1, it is not apprehended that the waist-hole
5 as well as the leg-holes 6 might be exposed from the pocket P. It
is also not apprehended that undesirable odor and/or excretion
might leak through the waist-hole 5 as well as the leg-holes 6
might be exposed from the pocket P.
[0029] It is unnecessary for the diaper 1 according to this
invention to be rolled up for disposal thereof after used. Instead,
the used diaper 1 folded in two may be tucked away in the pocket P
to confine the waist- and leg-holes 5, 6. In this way, an anxiety
that excretion having been discharged in the diaper 1 might be
forced out through the waist- and leg-holes 5, 6 as the used diaper
1 is rolled up for disposal can be reliably eliminated.
Additionally, tacking the used diaper 1 away in the pocket P can be
achieved merely by folding it in two and the conventional
troublesome operation of rolling up it can be eliminated.
Obviously, it is also possible to tuck the used diaper 1 in the
pocket P by longitudinally rolling the used diaper 1 from the
crotch region 21 up toward the rear waist region 22 or by folding
the used diaper 1 in two or more.
[0030] With the arrangement in which the elastic member 9 is
attached under tension to the free end zone 7a of the auxiliary
sheet 7, it will be unnecessary to form the fastening zone 8 on the
outer surface of the auxiliary sheet 7. In this case, the free end
zone 7a of the auxiliary sheet 7 circumferentially contracts and
the opening of the pocket P is correspondingly reduced as the used
diaper 1 is tucked away in the pocket P. As a result, there is no
apprehension that the waist-hole 5 as well as the leg-holes 6 might
be exposed from the opening of the pocket P.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of
the diaper 1 as viewed from the side of the front waist region 20
and partially broken away and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken
along line B-B in FIG. 5. This embodiment is similar to that shown
by FIG. 1 in that the diaper 1 basically comprises a
liquid-pervious topsheet 2, a liquid-impervious backsheet 3 and a
liquid-absorbent core 4 disposed between the top- and backsheets 2,
3 and entirely covered with and bonded to liquid-pervious tissue
paper (not shown) wherein the front and rear waist regions 20, 22
are put flat together and bonded together along respective
transversely opposite side edges 1a so as to define a waist-hole 5
and a pair of leg-holes 6.
[0032] In the front and rear waist regions 20, 22, a plurality of
elastically stretchable members 10 are attached under tension to
respective peripheral edges of the waist-hole 5 and a plurality of
elastic stretchable members 11 are attached under tension to
respective peripheral edges of the leg-holes 6.
[0033] The diaper 1 is provided on outer surface of the backsheet 3
with an auxiliary sheet 7 adapted to hold the used diaper 1 in its
folded state for disposal. This auxiliary sheet 7 has a given area
and extends from the crotch region 21 into the front and rear waist
regions 20, 22. More specifically, the auxiliary sheet 7 lies in
the front waist region 20 as well as in the rear waist region 22
and is defined by a pair of free end zones 7a circumferentially
extending between respective transversely opposite side edges of
the front and rear waist regions 20, 22, and fixed side edge zones
7b longitudinally along respective transversely opposite side edges
1a of the front and rear waist regions 20, 22 as well as the crotch
region 21.
[0034] Elastically stretchable members 9 extending
circumferentially are attached under tension to the respective free
end zones 7a of the auxiliary sheet 7 so as to be covered with
respective part of the free end zones 7a. The auxiliary sheet 7 has
its fixed side edge zones 7b bonded to the outer surface of the
backsheet 3.
[0035] FIGS. 7A-7C are diagrams schematically illustrating steps of
putting the auxiliary sheet 7 over the used diaper 1 of FIG. 5.
From the state of FIG. 7A, the diaper 1 is folded in two with the
front waist region 20 inside, i.e., with the front waist region 20
placed upon the crotch region 21. Then, the peripheral edge of the
waist-hole 5 is inserted from the free end zone 7a of the auxiliary
sheet 7 lying in the front waist region 20 into a space defined
between the auxiliary sheet 7 and the backsheet 3 as indicated by
an arrow Y in FIG. 7B.
[0036] After the diaper 1 has been folded in two as illustrated in
FIG. 7B, the free end zone 7a of the auxiliary sheet 7 lying in the
rear waist region 22 is pulled in a direction indicated by an arrow
Z in FIG. 7C toward the crotch region 21, then the auxiliary sheet
7 is folded back toward the front waist region 20 to turn the
auxiliary sheet 7 inside out. Thus the diaper 1 is tucked away in a
space defined between the auxiliary sheet 7 and the backsheet
3.
[0037] Once the used diaper 1 has been tucked away in the space
defined between the auxiliary sheet 7 and the backsheet 3, there is
no anxiety that the waist- and leg-holes 5, 6 might be exposed from
this space. After disposal, it is not apprehended that undesirable
odor and/or excretion might leak through the waist- and leg-holes
5, 6.
[0038] For the embodiment of diaper 1 shown in FIG. 5, it is
selective whether the front waist region 20 is placed upon the
crotch region 21 or the rear waist region 22 is placed upon the
crotch region 21 when the used diaper 1 is folded in two. In the
latter case, the free end zone 7a of the auxiliary sheet 7 lying in
the front waist region 20 is pulled toward the crotch region 21,
then the auxiliary sheet 7 is folded back toward the front waist
region 20 and the used diaper 1 is tucked away in the space defined
between the auxiliary sheet 7 tuned inside out and the backsheet
3.
[0039] For the embodiment of diaper 1 shown in FIG. 5, it is also
possible to fix the auxiliary sheet 7 to the outer surface of the
backshet 3 along a sealed zone (corresponding to the fixed end zone
7c in FIG. 1) extending parallel to the free end zone 7a across a
substantially middle zone of the crotch region 21. In the diaper 1
having the auxiliary sheet 7 fixed to the backsheet 3 along the
sealed zone in this manner, the auxiliary sheet 7 cooperates with
the backsheet 3 to form a pair of pockets P opening toward the
front and rear waist regions 20, 22 from the crotch region 21.
[0040] The topsheet 2 may be formed with a liquid-pervious sheet
such as a nonwoven fabric or a porous plastic film, more preferably
with a liquid-pervious and hydrophilic sheet. The backsheet 3 may
be formed with a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric, a liquid-impervious
plastic film or a laminated sheet consisting of a hydrophobic
nonwoven fabric and a plastic film, more preferably by a breathable
and liquid-impervious sheet. It is also possible to form the
backsheet 3 by a composite nonwoven fabric (SMS nonwoven fabric) in
which a melt blown nonwoven fabric of a high water-resistance has
its both sheet surfaces sandwiched by respective sheet surfaces of
two spun bond nonwoven fabric layers of high strength and
flexibility.
[0041] The auxiliary sheet 7 may be formed with a nonwoven fabric,
a plastic film or a laminated sheet consisting of a nonwoven fabric
and a plastic film. It is also possible to use a nonwoven fabric or
a plastic film both being elastically stretchable circumferentially
of the diaper 1 as the auxiliary sheet 7. In this case, it is
unnecessary to provide the free end zone 7a of the auxiliary sheet
7 with the elastic member 9.
[0042] The nonwoven fabric may be selected from a group including
those of spun lace-, needle punch-, melt blown-, thermal bond-,
spun bond- and chemical bond-types. The component fiber of the
nonwoven fabric may be selected from a group including
polyolefine-, polyester- and polyamide-based fibers and conjugated
fiber of polyethylene/polypropylene or polyester.
[0043] The elastic member 9 may be made of elastomeric material
such as a natural or synthetic rubber in the form of threads,
filaments, film or ribbon.
[0044] The core comprises a mixture of fluff pulp and high
absorption polymer grains compressed to a desired thickness.
Fixation of the respective sheets 2, 3, 7, bonding of the core 4
and attachment of the elastic members 9, 10, 11 may be carried out
using suitable adhesive such as hot melt adhesive,
pressure-sensitive adhesive or a heat-sealing technique.
[0045] The fastening zone 8 may be formed not only by application
of the pressure-sensitive adhesive 8b but also by attachment of a
hook member so far as the backsheet 3 is formed with a nonwoven
fabric. The hook member is caught in the component fibers of the
nonwoven fabric and reliably functions as the fastening zone.
[0046] This invention is applicable to, in addition to the
disposable diaper 1 as has been described above, the other wearing
articles such as training pants and incontinent pants.
[0047] The disposable wearing article of pants type according to
this invention can be thrown away, after used, with the article
folded merely in two. To thrown away, it is unnecessary to roll up
the used article and therefore this is no anxiety that excretion
discharged in the article might be squeezed out through the
waist-hole and/or the leg-holes.
[0048] In the embodiment of the article in which the fixed side
edge zones and the fixed end zone (sealed zone) of the auxiliary
sheet are bonded to the outer surface of the backsheet, the
waist-hole as well as the leg-holes of the article folded in two
are completely confined within the pocket. In this way, it is not
apprehended that undesirable odor and/or excretion might leak from
the waist-hole as well as the leg-holes after disposal of the used
article. In the embodiment of the article in which the fastening
zone is formed on the outer surface of the free end zone, the
opening of the pocket is sealed by means of the pressure-sensitive
adhesive and thereby leakage of undesirable odor and/excretion can
be further reliably avoided.
[0049] In the embodiment of the article in which the auxiliary
sheet extends from the crotch region into the front and rear waist
regions, the waist-hole as well as the leg-holes of the used
article folded in two can be completely confined in the space
defined between the auxiliary sheet and the backsheet. Therefore,
it is not apprehended that undesirable odor and/or excretion might
leak through these waist- and leg-holes after disposal of the used
article. For disposal of the used article according to such
embodiment, the article may be folded in two to place the front
waist region upon the crotch region and tucked away in the space
defined between the auxiliary sheet and the backsheet with the
waist- and leg-holes completely confined within this space. It is
also possible to fold the used article in two so as to place the
rear waist region upon the crotch region with the waist- and
leg-holes completely confined within the space for disposal of the
used article.
* * * * *